National health and wellbeing programme to be launched
In the first phase of the national health and wellbeing programme Terveydeksi (‘To Your Health’), concrete measures will be selected based on scientific expertise. The implementation of the measures in the second phase will start in autumn 2024.
The aim of the national health and wellbeing programme is to reduce the wellbeing deficit and disease burden caused by the main chronic diseases and conditions and their risk factors, increase the work ability and functional capacity, and reduce disparities between population groups related to health and wellbeing problems. The long-term objective of the programme is to reduce the need for health and social services.
A cross-administrative steering group and a scientific expert group have been appointed for the programme. The expert group will draw up a proposal for the measures to be implemented based on independent scientific expertise. The proposal is to be completed in summer 2024. The implementation of the measures selected from the proposal will start in early autumn 2024.
The responsibility for the preparation rests with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The progress will be monitored by the ministerial working group on a sustainable welfare society.
The Terveydeksi (‘To Your Health’) national health and wellbeing programme invites all associations and other stakeholders interested in health and wellbeing to participate in the collaboration. The programme aims to also cooperate with operators other than those in the social and health service sectors. As the implementation proceeds, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health will provide various kinds of opportunities to influence the work and participate in it.
The programme is part of the implementation of the Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government. It is linked to the Finland on the Move programme and to the service reform in the healthcare and social welfare sector. A one-off appropriation of EUR 9 million for the duration of the government term has been reserved for the implementation of the programme. The term of the programme will end in March 2027.
Members of the steering group of the national health and wellbeing programme:
Veli-Mikko Niemi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, chair
Riitta Aejmelaeus, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Finance, vice-chair
Päivi Aalto-Nevalainen, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Education and Culture
Sebastian Hielm, Director of Food Safety, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
personal deputy Ville Schildt, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Jukka Aalto, Director General, Ministry of the Interior
Taru Koivisto, Director, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
Noora Heinonen, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Finance
Matti Nieminen, Senior Specialist, Ministry of the Environment
personal deputy Katja Outinen, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of the Environment
Mikko Myllylä, Chief Administrative Physician, Ministry of Defence, PELOGOS
Members of the scientific expert group:
Tiina Laatikainen, Professor of Health Promotion, University of Eastern Finland, chair
Tomi Mäki-Opas, Professor of Social and Public Policy, University of Eastern Finland
Maijaliisa Erkkola, Professor of Nutrition, University of Helsinki
Otto Toivanen, Professor, Department of Economics, Aalto University
Pilvikki Absetz, Professor of Public Health, University of Tampere
Timo Partonen, Research Professor, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
The term of the scientific expert group will end on 30 June 2024.
Inquiries:
Heli Hätönen, Senior Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 295 163 326
Tuulia Rotko, General Secretary, tel. +358 295 163 285
Email addresses are in the format [email protected].